Step 3: find a provider

Compare CSP to other licensing models

Take a closer look at how the CSP model is more flexible for your customers—and more profitable for you.

Feature

Cloud Solution Provider—indirect reseller 1

Microsoft Open

Enterprise Agreement (EA)

Microsoft Products and Services Agreement (MPSA)

Minimum seats

One2

One

500+

250

Add/remove seats

Monthly3

Annually

Annually

Annually

Customer transactions

Indirect provider and reseller collaboration

Microsoft

Microsoft

Microsoft

Customer support

Indirect provider and reseller collaboration

Microsoft

Microsoft

Microsoft

Billing cadence

Pay as you go

Annual

Varies

Varies

Product availability

All Microsoft online services

All Microsoft online services

All Microsoft online services

All Microsoft online services

Microsoft Azure availability

Yes (2–3)

Yes

Yes (4–5)

No

Partner compensation4

Margin (through indirect provider) + incentive

Margin + incentive

Margin + incentive

Margin + incentive

Duration of agreement

Twelve months (minimum), evergreen

No-term or two years

Three years

No term/Three years/Evergreen

Minimum seats

Cloud Solution Provider—indirect reseller 1

One2

Microsoft Open

One

Enterprise Agreement (EA)

500+

Microsoft Products and Services Agreement (MPSA)

250

Add/remove seats

Cloud Solution Provider—indirect reseller 1

Monthly3

Microsoft Open

Annually

Enterprise Agreement (EA)

Annually

Microsoft Products and Services Agreement (MPSA)

Annually

Customer transactions

Cloud Solution Provider—indirect reseller 1

Indirect provider and reseller collaboration

Microsoft Open

Microsoft

Enterprise Agreement (EA)

Microsoft

Microsoft Products and Services Agreement (MPSA)

Microsoft

Customer support

Cloud Solution Provider—indirect reseller 1

Indirect provider and reseller collaboration

Microsoft Open

Microsoft

Enterprise Agreement (EA)

Microsoft

Microsoft Products and Services Agreement (MPSA)

Microsoft

Billing cadence

Cloud Solution Provider—indirect reseller 1

Pay as you go

Microsoft Open

Annual

Enterprise Agreement (EA)

Varies

Microsoft Products and Services Agreement (MPSA)

Varies

Product availability

Cloud Solution Provider—indirect reseller 1

All Microsoft online services

Microsoft Open

All Microsoft online services

Enterprise Agreement (EA)

All Microsoft online services

Microsoft Products and Services Agreement (MPSA)

All Microsoft online services

Microsoft Azure availability

Cloud Solution Provider—indirect reseller 1

Yes (2–3)

Microsoft Open

Yes

Enterprise Agreement (EA)

Yes (4–5)

Microsoft Products and Services Agreement (MPSA)

No

Partner compensation4

Cloud Solution Provider—indirect reseller 1

Margin (through indirect provider) + incentive

Microsoft Open

Margin + incentive

Enterprise Agreement (EA)

Margin + incentive

Microsoft Products and Services Agreement (MPSA)

Margin + incentive

Duration of agreement

Cloud Solution Provider—indirect reseller 1

Twelve months (minimum), evergreen

Microsoft Open

No-term or two years

Enterprise Agreement (EA)

Three years

Microsoft Products and Services Agreement (MPSA)

No term/Three years/Evergreen

1 Customer transactions, customer support, and partner compensation will vary in the direct model.2 Minimum of five seats for Microsoft Dynamics 365.3 Removing seats during term may incur charges.4 Incentives may vary by geographic location.

Pricing made easy with CSP tools

Make setting up customers with new products seamless and simple by using pricing calculators for our most popular programs.

Microsoft Azure

Estimate the price of comprehensive cloud services for your clients using Azure.

Services Provider License Agreement (SPLA)

Help customers do more with financing

Provide your clients with all of their technology needs through a single financing resource. Microsoft offers personalized payment plans with flexible options. Customers can even lease software, devices, and services, or they can acquire loans for all their IT needs, including your products and services.

Manage assets better with SAM

Software Asset Management (SAM) solutions give your customers a system to effectively manage, control, and protect software assets. A SAM engagement kit makes it easier for you to give customers data-driven facts to help them make informed technology decisions. Cybersecurity threats continue to increase, so make sure your customers are secure and can drive their business forward using SAM.